STUDIES ON RESPONSE OF TOMATO TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF N AND K FERTIGATION INSIDE NATURALLY VENTILATED POLYHOUSE

Among different fertigation treatments 100% RD of N and K recorded the highest vegetative growth, yield attributes and marketable fruit yield (122.59 t/ha) of tomato compared to 75% and 50% levels of fertigation and significantly superior to conventional fertilization (control). Results revealed that marketable fruit yield between 50% fertigation level and conventional fertilization were at par indicating that fertigation saved fertilizers to the tune of 50% as compared to the conventional control. In regard to qualitative characters, the juice content and TSS were at par between 100°% and 75°/o fertigation level of RD of N and K. However, 75% fertigation recorded the highest ascorbic acid content; whereas the highest titrable acidity were produced by conventional fertilization (control). Study on cost economics revealed that fertigation with 100% RD of N and K produced the highest cost benefit ratio of 1:1.83. It was concluded from the study that drip fulfillment at 100% ER with 100% supplementation of RD of N (75 kg/ha) and K (60kg/ha) was found to be beneficial for higher growth, yield, quality and economics of early season tomato grown inside naturally ventilated polyhouse under the agro-climatic conditions of Jorhat.